Causes

• In 1929, the Wall Street Crash started the Great Depression. Japan suffered greatly, its main export was silk, a luxury item that most people couldn’t afford during the depression
• Japan became more militaristic- the government looked for land to invade, thinking it would give them more natural resources. Manchuria, in north China, was rich in natural resources
• Japan already had industry and a railway there so it looked like an ideal place to invade